Dwight Bumpus (upper left); Russell Kaminsky (lower left); Earl Graves (lower right); and Ed Lechner (upper right)
MIAA champion
Conference
Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Record
10–0 (5–0 MIAA)
Head coach
Red Blair (3rd season)
Home stadium
STC Stadium
Seasons
← 1939
1941 →
1940 Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association football standings
v
t
e
Conf
Overall
Team
W
L
T
W
L
T
Springfield (MO) $
5
–
0
–
0
10
–
0
–
0
Maryville (MO)
3
–
2
–
0
7
–
2
–
0
Missouri Mines
2
–
2
–
1
3
–
3
–
2
Warrensburg
2
–
3
–
0
5
–
4
–
0
Cape Girardeau
1
–
3
–
1
4
–
5
–
1
Kirksville
1
–
4
–
0
4
–
4
–
1
$ – Conference champion
The 1940 Springfield Bears football team was an American football team that represented the Springfield Teachers College (later renamed Missouri State University) as a member of the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) during the 1940 college football season. In their third season under head coach Red Blair, the Bears compiled a perfect 10–0 record (5–0 in conference games), won the MIAA championship, shut out seven of ten opponent, and outscored all opponents by a total of 279 to 20.[1][2]
Springfield relied on a passing offense led by its quarterback Dwight Bumpus.[3] Despite a preseason accident that cost him part of a finger, the diminutive Bumpus (five feet, six inches tall, and weighing 150 pounds) was called "the hub of the Bears' aerial Circus". At the end of the season, he was the unanimous choose of coaches, officials, and reporters as the quarterback on the 1940 MIAA all-star football team.[4]
One of Bumpus' principal receivers was end Russell Kaminsky. Bumpus and Kaminsky were both Ohio natives who were selected as first-team all-conference players for three consecutive seasons in 1939, 1940, and 1941.[4][5] Kaminsky also received second-team honors on the 1940 Little All-America college football team.[6] In addition to Bumpus and Kaminsky, two other Springfield Bears were selected as 1940 first-team all-conference players: tackle Earl Graves and en Ed Lechner. Three others were named to the second team: Guy Brashear at fullback; Howard Elliott at tackle; Harry Berry at center.[4]
The team played its home games in Springfield, Missouri.
^Cite error: The named reference MMG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Marty Eddlemon (November 13, 1994). "Bears' 1940 football team a fearsome group: SMS used a razzle-dazzle offense and a punishing defense during a 10-0 year". Springfield News and Leader. p. 12C.
^"Dwight Bumpus, STC's Passing Wizard, Has .800 Average, 4 Touchdown Throws". Springfield Leader and Press. October 18, 1940. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcHarold Claassen (November 30, 1940). "Bears Land Four Stars on All-Conference Eleven: Bumpus Unanimous Choice For Quarterback Laurels". Springfield Leader and Press. Associated Press. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"STC Places Bumpus, Kaminsky On All-Conference Grid Team". Springfield Leader and Press. December 1, 1941. p. 5 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Bears' Russ Kaminsky Awarded Wing Post On Second Little All-America Grid Team". Springfield Leader and Press. Associated Press. December 10, 1940 – via Newspapers.com.
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